Bears Beat Bruins 3-2 In Shootout, Christian Djoos Scores Game Winner

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Jon Sorensen
Photo: Providence Bruins

The Hershey Bears beat the Providence Bruins 3-2 (SO) Saturday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. After a scoreless first frame, Liam O’Brien would score the game’s first goal late in the second period for a 1-0 Bears lead at the second intermission. The Bruins would tie the game early in the final frame and take the lead midway through the third period with a pair of goals from Peter Cehlarik. The Bears would tie the game with a 6-on-4 goal from Phil Maillet with 21 seconds left in regulation, sending the game into overtime. After a scoreless overtime period, Christian Djoos would win it for the Bears in the shootout. The win improves the Bears record to 27-14-2-3 (59 points) on the season. The Bears remain tied with the Hartford Wolf Pack for first place in the Atlantic Division. Hartford has two games in hand.

STARTERS
Pheonix Copley (12-6-4-1, 2.49 GAA, .905 sv%) started between the pipes for the visiting Bears. Max Lagace (16-6-2-5, 2.40 GAA, .918 sv%) got the start in goal for the Bruins. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Bears:

Scratches: Mike Sgarbossa (lower-body injury, day-to-day), Joe Snively (upper-body injury, week-to-week), Steve Whitney (upper body injury, week-to-week), Lucas Johansen and Connor Hobbs were the injury scratches. Matt Weis, Kale Kessy, Eddie Whitchow and Kody Clark were the healthy scratches.

FIRST PERIOD
The Bears led in zone time for the first six minutes of play. The Bruins were called for holding at 6:38, giving Hershey the game’s first power play. The Bruins had the league’s 9th best penalty kill entering the game, with 14 shorthanded goals, the most in the AHL. The Bears were unable to capitalize on the initial man advantage.

The Bruins would get their first power play at 13:13 when Chris McCarthy was called for hooking. The Bears had the league’s second best penalty kill entering the contest. The Bruins were unable to convert on the McCarthy minor.

The Bears would return to the power play with 2:36 left in the opening frame after the Bruins were called for high-sticking. The Bears were once again thwarted on the man advantage. Tyler Lewington was called for holding with 25 seconds left in the frame, but no damages were done.

The first period would conclude with the game scoreless. Hershey led in shots on goal 10-9 for the first frame. Both teams were 0 for 2 on the power play in the first period.

SECOND PERIOD
The Bears would get their third power play of the game at 13:52 of the middle frame, but were unable to convert. Shots on goal were tied 8-8 with 4:30 remaining in the middle frame.

The Bears would finally break the seal on the scoring with a goal from Liam O’Brien at 17:42 of the second period. Beck Malenstyn (5) and Riley Sutter (2) had the helpers.

The second period would conclude with the Bears leading 1-0. The Bears led in shots on goal 12-10 for the second period, and 22-19 after two periods. Hershey was 0 for 3 and Providence 0 for 2 on the power play after two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Bruins would tie the game early in the final frame with a goal from Peter Cehlarik (12) at 3:44 of the third period.

The Bruins would take a 2-1 lead with a goal from Peter Cehlarik (13) at  7:29 of the final frame.

The Bears would head to the power play with 1:49 left in regulation after Jeff Studnicka was called for an unnecessary cross-checking. The penalty would ultimately cost the Bruins the game. Phil Maillet would tie it with a 6-on-4 power play goal with 21 seconds left in regulation.

Regulation would end tied 2-2.

OVERTIME
The extra frame would go scoreless, sending the game to a shootout. Bears led in shots 7-2 for the extra frame.

SHOOTOUT
1. Bruins: Lantosi – No, Bears: Maillet – Good
2. Bruins: Cehlarik – No, Bears: Djoos – Good

SHAVINGS

    • Attendance: 8,610
    • Stars of the game: 1) Christian Djoos, 2) Peter Cehlarik and 3) Phil Maillet
    • Bears led in shots 33-31 for the game.
    • Pheonix Copley stopped 29 of 31 for a game save percentage of .935%.
    • Phil Maillet led the Bears in shots with 5.
    • Hershey was 1 for 5 and Providence 1 for 4 on the power play.
    • AHL box score

SCENES FROM PROVIDENCE

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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